GONE VIRAL

The Cathedral House of Good has been sidelined due to COVID 19 and may be coming back now.  I’m happy to say all Bishops, staff, every in-person attendee and all on-line members have weathered the storm, and have practiced the CDC guidelines for pandemics and were vaccinated to good avail.  

Since Nature and the mystery of existence are central to the Cathedral, I have struggled how to respond given the catastrophic, tragic effects throughout the world.  Can I see anything  spiritual in the pandemic?  Or anything uplifting?  I can’t really say the Virus is evil.  It just is. But it’s effects have definitely been tragic from our perspectives.  

Over the last few years—starting before the pandemic—I have been receiving randomly and 5 times daily, reminders through an app that I’m going to die.  Bhutan Buddhist, I’m told, do this so as to engender a greater appreciation of life.  And I can confirm it’s so.  The reminders have helped me be more conscious of the value of life and even stirred more gratitude for everyday happenings that could easily and unmindfully pass.  

Of necessity I have been outdoors more with increased direct and open sharing of existence with animals, plants and fungi. I’ve seen afresh awe inspiring photosynthesis.  With a new puppy, I’ve shared the mystery of relating to another emotional, joyful, and willful being and celebrating the joy of experiencing newness and amazement at every turn, as well as a host of physiological processes underscoring life.  I’ve been grateful for the recovery of friends and family struck with COVID; shared the angst of other friends and family; and even felt a closer bond with everyone (isolated as we were at times) by being thankful for each of their contributions to daily living—from the doctors who treated us, to the person who sold me food, the postman, the grounds keepers where I walked.  Basically I mean everyone.  I could see how everyone contributes.  

So the worse of the pandemic appears to have passed, even if it still threatens at times.  But even before it’s fading I have been able to venture out and about.  I have visited several cathedrals and churches as a part of ecumenical efforts and will share some of this later.  I hope to make more postings but only as I feel prompted by some mysterious force.    

And may Mysterious Forces be with us all!  And keep us safe and secure.

                                                       — the Bishop